For a sixth time since the University of Minnesota Duluth men's hockey team left the Western Collegiate Hockey Association in 2013-14, the No. 8/9 Bulldogs will play a home-and-home series against Bemidji State University. Game one will be played at AMSOIL Arena at 7:07 p.m. Friday night, while Saturday's skate will happen in Bemidji, Minn. at the Sanford Center at 6:07 p.m.


UMD Men's Hockey Weekly Press Conference, Oct. 21 -- Head coach Scott Sandelin and forward Peyton Platter




HIGH ON HANSON: Reigning NCHC Defenseman of the Week Ty Hanson has begun the season where he left off the last one -- as one of the nation's most offensive defensemen. Hanson is currently the NCAA's top scoring defenseman with four goals and four assists for eight points, and ranks seventh among all NCAA skaters in points. Hanson also sits second among all skaters in goals (4) and has recorded points in five of his first six skates and is averaging 1.33 points per game.

While Hanson's seven-game scoring streak dating back to last season was broken on Saturday against Minnesota, the Hermantown, Minn. ranks seventh in the NCAA for time on ice with a 25:38 average -- a second more than her averaged over the entire season in 2025-26.

In 82 games over his UMD career -- (82 consecutive games, at that), Hanson has rung up 18 goals and 40 assists for 58 points.

AXELSSON'S UNBEATEN: Rookie goaltender Carl Axelsson started in both games last weekend against Minnesota and stayed unbeaten, with a now 2-0-2 record. The native of Danderyd, Sweden is the first rookie netminder to be unbeaten through their first four starts since Hunter Miska went 6-0-1 through seven starts over the 2016-017 season (Oct. 10-Nov. 5, 2016).

Axelsson is also sitting up high in some NCAA rankings. The rookie is fifth in the nation with a 0.96 GAA and among goaltenders who have played in three or more games he sits second.

PENALTY KILLERS: The Bulldogs finally allowed a goal on the penalty kill last Saturday, but not before they had killed off 21-straight over six games. UMD is 21-of-22 this season and while on paper UMD is listed with the ninth-best penalty kill in the NCAA, among teams that have had to kill 20 or more opponent power plays off, the Bulldogs rank third.

The Bulldogs wrapped up the 2025-26 with the second-ranked PK and a kill rate of 88.8 (111 of 125 opponent attempts). UMD also has one shorthanded goal this season (Ty Hanson).

OPENING OFFENSE: UMD ranks fourth in goals scored (24) through four games, and is averaging 4.0 goals a game.

Four players are averaging a point or more a game after the Minnesota series -- Jayson Shaugabay (1.50 ppg), Ty Hanson (1.33), Hunter Anderson (1.17) and Zam Plante (1.00).

MISSING MAX: UMD's junior forward captain Max Plante is listed as unavailable this weekend with an upper body injury.

THE SERIES: The Bulldogs have had the upper hand in the rivalry as of late with an 8-1-1 record over their past 10 meetings. 

UMD has a three-game winning streak against BSU dating back to Dec. 31, 2024 and has outscored the Beavers 16-4 over those three games. All-time, the Bulldogs are 31-17-1 against BSU.

Last season, UMD swept BSU in a home and away series by scores of 7-3 and 5-1. 

Friday night in Bemidji, the Bulldogs reeled off five unanswered goals between the first and second periods to overcome an early 2-0 deficit. UMD's line of Max Plante, Zam Plante and Jayson Shaugabay were responsible for five goals between them, including two power play goals and a shorthanded tally. Each of the forwards logged four points on the evening – the Plante brothers had two goals and two assists each, while Shaugabay had a goal and three assists.

UMD outshot the Beavers 25-20 in the game and got 17 saves from sophomore goaltender Adam Gajan. Overall, the Bulldogs were 2-of-5 on their power play while BSU went 1-of-5.

Saturday, for a second-straight night, UMD used power play goals – four, exactly – to defeat the Beavers. Shaugabay's two-goal game was the second of his career against the Beavers – he opened his collegiate hockey career with two against BSU back on Oct. 5, 2024.

Gajan again was brilliant in the back for the Bulldogs, making 22 saves. Overall, UMD outshot the Beavers 36-23 and went an impressive 4-of-7 on the power play against BSU on the night.

Shaugabay led all scorers on the weekend with three goals and four assists for seven point. Shaugabay has racked up six goals and five assists for 11 points against BSU in just four games – a 2.75 points per game average. It marked Shaugabay's third career game with two goals – two of them have come against the Beavers.

Zam Plante has also piled up points against the Beavers – the sophomore center has four goals and six assists for 10 points over those same four games.

UMD vs. Bemidji St., Last 10 Games: (8-1-1)

Oct. 18, 2025 UMD 5, BSU 1 (H)

Oct. 17, 2025 UMD 7, BSU 3 (A)

Dec. 31, 2024 UMD 4, BSU 2 (A)

Oct. 5,   2024 UMD 3, BSU 4 OT (H)

Oct. 21, 2023 UMD 5, BSU 4 (A)

Oct. 20, 2023 UMD 4, BSU 0 (H)

Jan. 7, 2023 UMD 5, BSU 2 (H)

Jan. 6, 2023 UMD 1, BSU 1 2OTSW (A)

Oct. 9, 2021 UMD 2, BSU 1 (H)

Oct. 8, 2021 UMD 4, BSU 2 (A)

LAST TIME OUT: UMD defeated Minnesota 7-1 Friday night before settling for a 2-2 Saturday night at AMSOIL Arena.

Friday night, the goals kept coming for the Bulldogs, who took a 2-1 lead into the first intermission but exploded for four unanswered tallies -- including three-straight power play goals -- in the second period. 

UMD added a seventh goal in th third period -- Hunter Anderson's second of night, and  when it was over, UMD had defeated the Gophers 7-1. 

The Bulldogs had a whopping 11 players on the scoresheet and five that had two points or more, including Zam (3a) and Victor Plante 1g, 2a), who had three points each, while reshman goaltender Carl Axelsson had 24 saves on 25 shots.

Saturday night UMD played to a 2-2 draw with Minnesota, with goals from Aaron Pionk and Braden Fischer. The Bulldogs hit two posts in overtime, and got 16 saves in net from Axelsoon. UMD outshot Minnesota a whopping 36-18 Saturday and doubled up in the series an impressive 74-43. 

NOTES ON THE MINNESOTA SERIES: All-time, UMD is now 98-138-20 against Minnesota and 5-3-2 over the past 10 games.  

--The tie Saturday keeps the Bulldogs unbeaten in their last four outings against the Gophers and secures another regular season series grab for a second-consecutive year. 

--UMD outscored Minnesota 9-2 in the series and outshot them 74-43 in the series.

--Friday night was the first time UMD defeated the Gophers by six goals since Jan. 14, 1983, an 8-2 win. The last time the Bulldog put up seven goals on Minnesota was Feb. 27, 1999 – ironically a 10-7 loss for UMD.

--UMD earned its first win against Minnesota inside AMSOIL since Oct. 23, 2021 and its sell-out Friday night was its 11th biggest crowd at AMSOIL Arena. Six of the top 10 biggest crowds have come against the Gophers.